China banks on Xia, Ji in Thomas Cup c'ship

China banks on Xia, Ji in Thomas Cup c'ship

JAKARTA (Agencies): China is putting its hopes on young
shuttlers Xia Xuanze and Ji Xinpeng in the Thomas Cup in Kuala
Lumpur next month while experienced women players will be
recruited for the Uber Cup team.

Xia, the All England champion, and Ji, the Japan Open winner,
will join elder players Sun Jun, Chen Hong and Luo Yigang in the
singles. In the doubles, China is counting on Chen Qiqiu, Yu
Jinhao, Zhang Jun, Zhang Wei and mixed doubles specialist Liu
Yong.

For the Uber Cup, world number one Gong Zhichao will team up
with the 1999 World Championships runner-up Dai Yun, former world
number one Ye Zhaoying and Gong Ruina.

The world's best women's doubles pairing, Ge Fei/Gu Jun, will
be the backbone along with Yang Wei, Huang Nanyan, Qin Yiyuan and
Gao Ling.

China's head coach Li Yongbo was quoted as saying by Xinhua on
Wednesday: "Our target is to defend the Uber Cup by our solid
women's players and try to make it a golden double with the
Thomas Cup through new talent."

The Chinese shuttlers trained in Guangzhou for a month before
flying to Kuala Lumpur on May 7.

China is in the yellow group with defending champion
Indonesia, Sweden and England. Runner-up Denmark is in the blue
group with host Malaysia, South Korea and India.

Meanwhile, Bernama reported that the 1996 Olympic doubles
silver medalist Yap Kim Hock insisted on Tuesday in joining the
Malaysian Thomas Cup team despite a prolonged left calf injury.

"I believe I will be fit for the competition next month. I
also have stepped up my training and I feel much better. I am
still doing light training. Today, I spar with Rosman (Razak) and
Hung (Choon Hun)."

Meanwhile, Chan Choong Ming, who will partner Cheah Soon Kit
if Yap does not recover in time for the finals, said he was ready
to play if given the chance.

Malaysia has launched a two million ringgit (US$526,316)
patriotism campaign to boost the spirits of its shuttlers bidding
to regain the Thomas Cup next month.

The campaign focuses on a theme song titled Julangkanlah (Lift
It Up), that will be featured in a three-minute music video in
English and Malay, The Star newspaper said.

The video, featuring the country's singles and doubles
players, will be broadcast by private television station NTV7
from Wednesday until the end of the May 11 to May 21 tournament,
it said.

The project is jointly undertaken by the Badminton Association
of Malaysia (BAM), Kentucky Fried Chicken Holdings and NTV7.

Wide interest

BAM president Abdullah Fadzill Che Wan was quoted as saying
the song would generate wide interest among Malaysians to come
out and give moral support to the national shuttlers.

"As the hosts, this is the best chance for the team to wrest
back the trophy," he said. "We are the underdogs while the
favorites are Indonesia, China and Denmark. We need the fans to
come out in full force and support the team."

Separately, the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) is
staging a simulation match on Thursday at Padjadjaran Stadium,
Bogor.

World number two Hendrawan is scheduled to meet Ronny
Agustinus, Taufik Hidayat is to take on Hariyanto Arbi and Marlev
Mainaky will face Johan Hadikusuma in the men's singles matches.

World number one pair of Candra Wijaya and Tony Gunawan will
face Antonius Budi Irianto and Sigit Budiarto, while Ricky
Subagja and Rexy Mainaky will challenge Flandy Limpele and Halim
Heryanto.

In the women's singles, Lidya Djaelawidjaja will challenge
Niniek Masrikah, Ellen meets Mona Santoso, Yuli Marfuah faces Atu
Rosalina.

Elysa Nathanael and Elysa Lomban will meet Indarti Issoliana
and Carmelita while Etty Tantri and Cynthia Tuwankotta will
challenge Minarti Timur and Zelin Resiana. (yan)